As of today, Kim and I have been married for 14 years. So it seems like a good time to share some super exciting news with you guys…

We recently finalized a book deal with a major New York publisher!!!

St. Martin’s Press, which is owned by Macmillan Publishers, is headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City and is considered one of the largest English-language publishers. They loved the concept for my next book, “Penguins Can’t Fly and 39 Other Adultitis-Ridden Rules That Don’t Exist” (tentative cover above), and so we’ll be working together to bring it to life!

For the most part, almost every single book we’ve published has been self-published. Meaning that we write, print, distribute, and sell our books on our own. Compared to traditional publishing, this is a very good way to go for making money, because even though you have to foot the whole bill yourself, all of the profits go back to you. We have been very happy with this route, and have been able to move a lot of books over the years. On the flip side, a traditional publisher usually gives you more street cred and has wider distribution channels that individuals and small publishers just don’t have.

The trick is getting them to pick you.

An Unlikely Unfolding of Events

A little over a year ago, a friend of mine emailed me a link to a an article in Writer’s Digest that gave a rundown of what big publishers look for in authors. I was surprised to see that the numbers for our email list and the number of speaking engagements were considered very favorable. I started to wonder if the time was right for us to pursue a traditional publisher.

A week later, out of the blue, a literary agent emailed me. I did not know at the time that she is the coolest literary agent in the history of ever. She said she’d seen one of my pieces of art on Facebook via a share from one of her friends, went to our website, and fell in love with our message. She told me about her roller coaster experience of clicking through our site, praying that we didn’t have any books, being crushed when she found them, and then rejoicing upon discovering that they were all self-published. She sent off an email wondering if I had ever considered traditional publishing and hoped to set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of working together. [Read more…]

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So I’m getting the itch to create some new products. Problem is, we are running out of space and I’m not interested in living in a warehouse. So for a limited time (just two weeks, to be exact) we are offering an insane deal on ALL of our t-shirts. At just $12 each, they are over 50% off!

Priced to move, baby.

Now here’s the thing: when these shirts are gone, they’re gone. We have no immediate plans to reprint them. (Because I’ll be making new ones instead!) That being said, supplies are extremely limited — especially for certain designs and sizes — so act fast!

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Last year’s Escape Adulthood Summit was really something special. Over 40 like-minded individuals from 8 different states came together in Madison for a life-changing weekend of fun, inspiration, and magic. It was, in a word, awesome.

There are 70 Golden Tickets available, but 50 are already gone, many claimed by people who’ve attended a previous Summit. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider joining their ranks:

1) The community. It can be terribly lonely when you feel like you’re the only one who sees the value in silliness, the importance of laughter, and the power of a chocolate chip cookie. The Escape Adulthood Summit is designed to connect you with other like-minded souls to give you the assurance that you are not alone. In fact, it’s quite possible that your biggest takeaway might come from the person you sit next to.

2) The location. We have upgraded to the the beautifully stunning Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by 16 acres of lush, award-winning, outdoor display gardens, you can plan on some well-deserved relaxation and rejuvenation.

3) The butterflies. We’ll be there for the opening weekend of Olbrich’s famous Blooming Butterflies Event, which only runs four weeks each year. Live butterflies emerge from chrysalises daily in the Bolz Conservatory and you’ll experience the magnificence of more than a dozen species of free-flying butterflies. [Read more…]

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A few years ago, Kim and I took a plunge. For years, we had dreamed about hosting some sort of live event for the kind of people who get giddy about making Adultitis all hot and bothered. The Escape Adulthood Summit was born, and it exceeded our wildest expectations. Last year, we did another one, and that one was even better.

Number three is six months away, and — BAM! — we’re determined to kick it up another notch. This year we have live butterflies on our team. Oh yeah, baby.

The Escape Adulthood Summit is a multi-day event based on four cornerstones: Community, Inspiration, Magic, and Fun. Part conference, part retreat, part mastermind group, it’s a one-of-a-kind event designed for people instilled with the soaring spirit of childhood.

It’s your chance to connect with kindred spirits for a madcap weekend filled with fun and inspiration. We’ll talk about how to stay happy and hopeful in an Adultitis-ridden world that’s increasingly more noisy, cynical, and stressful. We’ll share simple, fun, and practical ideas for creating memorable scenes with the people we love. We’ll brainstorm creative ways to break rules that don’t exist. We’ll explore the elusive concept of life balance and discover ways to make life less stressful and more fun.

I used Flipagram to create a 1:37 recap of last year’s hijinks. Check it out below, and then reserve your spot for this year’s shindig. Of the 70 Golden Tickets available, only two dozen are left. (And don’t forget, it’s cheaper if you bring a friend, spouse, sibling, parent, or sworn enemy.)

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I am happy to anounce that a new little Adultitis-fighter has joined our family. Her name is Virginia Rose, and she arrived at 2:39 am on December 19, just in time for Christmas. Ginny was born at home and interestingly, she was born “en caul,” which means she was actually born in her bag of waters, which is somewhat rare. Depending on what you Google, it is generally regarded as a sign of good luck (or an omen that she will grow up to be a vampire.)

At 8 pounds, 15 ounces, Ginny weighed in a little over big sister Lucy but under big brother Ben, who was 10 pounds, 4 ounces. Speaking of the siblings, Ben and Lucy are both excited about their new sister. Lucy is thrilled that her prayers for a sister were answered!

Both Mom and baby are doing great, and I am busy holding down the fort. It’s a good kind of tired, and we love having babies this time of year: warm and bundled up inside under the glow of twinkling Christmas lights.

There’s a good chance that Kim will be writing up a blog with more of her thoughts, but I wanted to share the good news with all of you. (More photos here.)

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

What’s something awesome you’re grateful for this week?

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Last year’s Escape Adulthood Summit was really something special. Over 40 like-minded individuals from 8 different states came together in Madison for a life-changing weekend of fun, inspiration, and magic. It was, in a word, awesome.

There are 65 Golden Tickets available, but well over half are already gone, most claimed by people who’ve attended a previous Summit. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider joining their ranks: [Read more…]

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Our first series of collectible pinback buttons have arrived and they’ve been designed to allow you to display your inner child on the outside! They are also quite handy in warding off Adultitis. Featuring colorful art by yours truly, the buttons are 2.25″ in diameter, have a pinned metal back and are 100% American made!

The buttons in this series are Bee Optimistic, Naps Rule and Red Rover.

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After a year of planning, the week before an event like the Escape Adulthood Summit is always filled with a mix of excitement (I can’t believe it’s finally here!), anticipation (They’re gonna love all the surprises!) and a bit of self-doubt (Did we add in enough magic? Have we forgotten anything?)

I am happy to report that the second annual Escape Adulthood Summit was a rousing success![Read more…]

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That’s the answer Chris Guillebeau gave at the annual World Domination Summit when he was asked why it was worth pouring all the effort and money and man hours into putting on the annual event in Portland when he could easily reach more people through his blog and bestselling books.

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Today is the END of our super awesome t-shirt pre-order! We may decide to keep the best-sellers in stock, but there are no guarantees, so if you see a certain design (or color) you like, your best bet is to snag it right this minute. Chances are it may not be available anytime soon because we’ll be busy creating the next thing :)

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The purpose of this post is to feature some of the repulsive results from the recent Ugly Cake Initiative (We shared our family’s experience here).

We heartily congratulate all the people who took up the challenge to fight Adultitis by whipping up something ugly in the kitchen. And we offer our sincere condolences to any brave souls who ingested any of the creations. (Although to be fair, most were reported to be very delicious.) Take that, Martha Stewart!

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According to the Interwebs, the first week of April is Laugh at Work Week. If there’s one thing work could use more of, it’s laughter.

Inspired by our most recent Champion of Childhood award winners who made an epic ugly cake for a co-worker, we are introducing a new Small Rebellion and we’d love to have you join us! It’s called The Ugly Treat Initiative, and the instructions are very simple:

The MISSION:Step 1) Make a delicious dessert that also happens to be really, really UGLY.Step 2) Bring it to work to share.Step 3) Enjoy laughter and improved morale with your colleagues. (And possibly be awarded a primo parking spot for a month.)Step 4) Share your stories and pictures online with the hashtag #smallrebellion6

You can tackle the mission when it’s most convenient, any time during the week. You can make cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pies, strudels…anything, really. Just make sure it’s sweet and tasty. And butt ugly.

The only other requirement is the sharing part, even if it’s not an official place of employment. Eating an ugly cake alone does not generate much laughter. And please, share this Small Rebellion with friends, families, and mortal enemies. The more the merrier!

I have many speaker friends who wish they had a Kim to do for their business what she does for ours. Believe me, I know how lucky I am.

There is a reason that Kim gets top billing in the trademark “Kim & Jason.” I may be the artist and speaker, but she’s the inspiration. She’s the lifeblood of our business. She’s the one I aspire to be like. Not only is she the world’s best business partner, but she’s also my wife, best friend, and partner in crime on this crusade to annihilate Adultitis.

She’s also celebrating a birthday today. (Twenty-nine-ish. Again.)

I thought it would be cool to all go in on a super awesome gift for her. Yes, all of us! So here’s what I was thinking: There is nothing that drives Kim more than encouraging and inspiring people to fight Adultitis. If you would be willing to do something to tick off Adultitis today, and then report back here what you did, I know for a fact that Kim will be overjoyed.

It’s a unique gift sure to be enjoyed as much by the giver as the receiver. And it seems like a fitting tribute to the most passionate Adultitis-fighter I know.

So please, do something fun today in honor of Kim, and share your adventure in the comments below.

Happy birthday, Kim!

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Since we like making stuff way more than we like managing inventory, every once in a while, we create something we think is cool, take orders for a week, and then buy the exact number of goodies we need to fill those orders. So whether it’s two or two thousand, I get to make cool things, you get a chance to own them, and we don’t waste any money on stuff that takes up space in our basement.

Now, does this mean we will never, ever, EVER offer this product again? Not necessarily. But if you see something you like, your best bet is to snag it while you can. Chances are it won’t be available anytime soon because we’ll be busy creating the next thing :)

Our latest offering is a t-shirt featuring an inventive penguin. May he serve as a whimsical reminder of the power of possibility. Printed on a Gildan Soft-Style 4.5 oz, 100% cotton pre-shrunk jersey knit with tapered neck and shoulders for a better fit. It’s SUPER soft and destined to become your favorite t-shirt :)

Your chance to order this item goes “poof!” on Friday, February 22, 2013. Get it now!

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I created this painting last year for the inaugural Escape Adulthood Summit. We used the metaphor of a fish escaping from a fishbowl as a theme. Every group’s table featured a real live goldfish as a centerpiece. And each team used things like noodles and egg cartons and glue to create a “vehicle” their fish could use to escape. The t-shirts everyone received were emblazoned with a depiction of the Bloop! graphic above. And after two days of laughing, thinking, playing, sharing, and eating yummy things, I presented each of the attendees with a print of this image.

It’s something I think we can all relate to. It certainly applied to our decision to even host the Summit in the first place. For too long, Kim and I assumed an event like that would happen years from now. When our kids were older. When we had a bigger tribe. When we had more money we could afford to lose. In order for the Escape Adulthood Summit to become a reality, we had to escape the confines of our preconceived notions and self-limiting beliefs. [Read more…]

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So I submitted my first shirt to Threadless.com. It’s all about mushrooms.

It cleared the first hurdle of acceptance, and now it is up for scoring on the web site. If the scores are high enough and the comments prevalent enough, apparently they will consider printing it and offering it for sale on their site. It would be a pretty neat honor for me, and nice exposure for my work.

Voting ends on Thursday. If you think it is worthy, I would so very much appreciate it if you’d give it a high score and leave a comment here.

Thanks!

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Have you always wanted to start a business? Ever have the nagging feeling that your hobby could be something more? Do you often wish you could quit your job and do your own thing? Have you always wondered if anything could come of that business idea that never seems to go away?

If you answered “YES!” to any of those questions, I invite you to enter the Your Dream Starts Now contest.

The truth is that now is probably the best time in the history of the world to start your own thing. If you’re ready, this prize package has the potential to tip you over the edge from dreaming to doing. [Read more…]

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If you’re looking for a gift that 1) is guaranteed to give Adultitis a hissy fit, 2) can be customized to each recipient on your list, and 3) will be the most talked about item in your gift exchange, look no further.

It’s the Build-Your-Own Adultitis First Aid Kit, and it’s better than ever. There are now 20 different items you can choose from to create the perfect Adultitis antidote, including Silly Putty, Slinky, Play-Doh, and more!

It’s pretty much a time capsule back to childhood! Extensive tests have proven that every possible configuration is guaranteed to have an immediate and long-lasting effect on Adultitis levels of all degrees. It’s perfect for families! Parents! Siblings! Spouses! Staff! Stressed-Out Grown-Ups of any Stripe! And the best news is that the only side effect is fun :)

Give somebody on your list a gift that will not only be a highlight of the season, but a prescription for less stress and more fun all year long. Build yours right now.

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This is the third year in which we will be combining the awesomeness of the Halloween parade with the amazing connecting power of the Internets. It’s our annual Kim & Jason Virtual Halloween Parade![Read more…]

Are you passionate about fighting Adultitis? Do you have a background in sales and marketing? Could you use some extra income? If you answered yes to all of these questions, we’d love to chat about having you join our team! We are looking for a creative, passionate, and outgoing individual to help us get our new Fun Capsule into the hands of the people who need it most: families enduring long hospital stays. A background in the healthcare field is a plus! Please contact Kim to learn more.

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That quotation spoke loudly to me and Kim when we were in Alaska last fall. That’s when we decided to go ahead and host our first Escape Adulthood Summit. A live event was something we’d talked about for a long time, but we were held back back by a lot of preconceived notions and, frankly, fear.

What if no one wanted to come? What if it flopped? What if we lost a lot of money?

We tend to regret the things we don’t do way more than the things we do, so we decided to listen to our hearts and give it a go.

I am happy to report that it exceeded all of our expectations. [Read more…]